Metalized fabric that dissipates and scatters infrared light and methods or making and using the same
A metalized fabric and method for metallization of fabric. The fabric is formed using two threads with different affinities for metallization, but which threads are not metalized prior to forming into the fabric. The threads will typically be woven using an unbalanced weave to provide one side of the fabric with a resultant greater amount of metallization than the other but this is not required. Once the resultant fabric is metalized, it will typically be more suitable for consistent color dying than fabric which was formed from both metalized and unmetallized threads.
1 . A method for producing a metalized fabric, the method comprising:
providing a first non-metalized thread having a first affinity for metallization;
providing a second non-metalized thread having a second affinity for metallization, said second affinity being greater than said first affinity;
forming said first thread and said second thread into a fabric; and
after forming said fabric, metalizing said first thread in said formed fabric to a first amount and said second thread in said formed fabric to a second amount, wherein said second amount of metallization of said second thread is greater than said first amount of metallization of said first thread; and
wherein both said first thread and said second thread each have some metallization after said metalizing.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said forming comprises weaving said first thread with said second thread.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein said weaving creates a balanced weave with a generally equal amount of both said first thread and said second thread on both said opposing sides.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: dying said metalized fabric after said metallization.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein said first thread comprises nylon.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein said second thread comprises polyester.
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein said second thread comprises a treated nylon.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said metallization comprises autocatalysis.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein said metalized fabric serves to scatter infrared (IR) waves incident on said fabric.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after metallization, said first thread has a thinner layer of metallization as compared to said metallization of said second thread.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said metallization of said first thread and said second thread occurs during immersion of said formed fabric in a bath.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
said fabric has a first surface and a second opposing surface; and
said second opposing surface includes more metallization than said first surface.